The community of Aurora, Colorado as well as the nation came together on Sunday, July 22nd, 2012 to remember the victims of the deadly movie theater massacre that took the lives of 12 people and injured 59 people at the Century 16 Movie Theaters in Aurora, Colorado last Friday night.

Thousands gathered at the west side steps of the Aurora Municipal Center in Aurora, Colorado remember the lives of:

** Victims of the Deadly Movie Theater Massacre: **

– 6 year old Veronica Moser Sullivan:

Veronica had just learned to swim,

According to Veronica’s Great-Aunt Annie Dalton, Veronica was a “great little girl, excited about life.”

– 18 year old Alexander J. Boik:

Alexander had a reputation for making people laugh and tried to bring back the mullet hair cut in his freshman year of high school.

“He tried to rock the mullet,” said Tyler Lynch, who played baseball with Alexander on their high school team.

Alexander, a catcher who played on the team through his junior year, had recently graduated from Gateway High School in Aurora, Colorado.

Alexander also played in the school orchestra.

Alexander was to start classes at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in the fall.

Gateway Principal Bill Hedges said Alexander planned to become an art teacher.

Alexander’s family said in a statement that Alexander was loved by all who knew him and was dating “a beautiful young lady” who was with him at the theater and survived.

Alexander’s friend Jordan Crofter, described Alexander as someone who “didn’t hold anything back. He was just his own person.”

According to Alexander’s friend Jordan Crofter, Alexander and his girlfriend made a “perfect couple,” and people expected them to get married.

“He was a ball of joy. He was never sad or depressed. He wanted everybody to be happy,” said Alexander’s friend Jordan Crofter.

“If he were still here, he’d try to make everyone have a positive outlook of the situation and not allow it to affect their outlook of life,” said Alexander’s friend Jordan Crofter.

– 23 year old Micayla C. Medek:

Micayla loved a night out with her friends and was with a group of about 10 at the premiere of the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Micayla was “Cayla” to her family and friends.

Micayla was juggling classes at Aurora Community College and a job at a Subway sandwich shop.

According to Micayla’s Aunt Jenny Zakovich, Micayla was an independent-minded and sweet girl who rarely asked her family for anything.

“I think her plans were to finish community college and go into a better paying job – probably in the computer field,” said Micayla’s Aunt Jenny Zakovich.

– 24 year old Jessica N. Ghawi:

Jessica moved to Colorado from Texas.

Jessica didn’t let the shooting at the Eaton Centre shooting in Toronto on Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 change her outlook on life as she pursued a career in sports journalism.

Jessica recently wrote a blog post after surviving the shooting in saying it showed her, “how fragile life was.”

Jessica was described by former colleagues and friends as ambitious and hardworking.

Jessica was a regular tweeter on Twitter and her last post was that Friday night at the Century 16 Movie Theaters saying, “movie doesn’t start for 20 minutes.”

– 24 year old Alexander C. Teves:

Alexander of Phoenix, Arizona.

Alexander earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology in June from University of Denver.

According to Alexander’s Grandfather Carlo Iacovelli, Alexander was a lovable person who made friends quickly and had a lot of them.

“He had a lot to look forward to,” said Alexander’s Grandfather Carlo Iacovelli.

– 26 year old Jonathon T. Blunk:

Jonathan had high hopes for the future and plan to re-enlist in the United States Navy with the goal of becoming a Navy SEAL.

According to Jonathan’s close friend James Gill, Jonathan served 3 tours in the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea between 2004 and 2009.

Jonathan was also a certified firefighter and emergency medical technician, Gill added.

Jonathan was killed in the shooting massacre at the Century 16 Movie Theaters after Jonathan throw himself in front of friend Jansen Young which saved her life.

– 27 year old Alex M. Sullivan:

Alex’s family called Alex, “their real life super hero.”

Alex was at the premiere of the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises” on his 27th birthday and was also celebrating his first wedding anniversary.

Alex’s family said in a statement, “Alex was a gentle giant, known and loved by so many. He always had a glowing smile on his face and he made friends with everyone. Alex enjoyed all sorts of movies, was an avid comic book geek and loved the New York Mets.”

According to Shelly Fradkin, Alex was a big man with a warm smile and an innocence that endeared him to people.

“He’s amazing. He was just a big teddy bear. Great hugs,” said Shelly Fradkin.

Alex enjoyed all sorts of movies and was an avid comic book geek.

Alex loved the New York Mets.

– 27 year old John T. Larimer:

John was a Navy sailor based at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado where he was a cryptologic technician.

John and another active service member, Air Force Sgt. Jesse Childress, were killed in the shooting massacre at the Century 16 Movie Theaters.

John grew up in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake, Illinois and joined the service just over a year ago.

In a written statement by Commander Jeffrey Jakuboski, John’s commanding officer, “A valued member of our Navy team, he will be missed by all who knew him. My heart goes out to John’s family, friends and loved ones, as well as to all the victims of this horrible tragedy.”

– 27 year old Matthew R. McQuinn:

As the shooting massacre at the Century 16 Movie Theaters unfolded, Matt dove in front of his girlfriend and her older brother to shield them from the gunfire.

Matthew died protecting his girlfriend Samantha Yowler and her older brother Nick Yowler.

Yowler was recovering from surgery after she was shot in the knee at the theater. Her 32-year-old brother, Nick Yowler, who also shielded his sister, was not injured.

McQuinn and Yowler moved to Colorado from Ohio last fall.

– 29 year old Jesse E. Childress:

Jesse was an Air Force cyber-systems operator based at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado.

Air Force Captain Andrew Williams described Jesse from Thornton, Colorado as knowledgeable, experienced and respectful.

“We’re going to miss him incredibly,” said Air Force Captain Andrew Williams.

According to Co-worker Ashley Wassinger, Jesse was a great person fun to be with, always positive and laughing.

“Really just an amazing person, and I am so lucky to have been his friend,” said Ashley Wassinger.

– 32 year old Rebecca Ann Wingo:

Rebecca had started a job several months ago as a customer relations representative at a mobile medical imaging company.

Shannon Dominguez, who worked with Rebecca, said she was friendly with everyone and always seemed to be in a good mood.

– 51 year old Gordon W. Cowden:

Gordon loved life and his family.

Gordon had gone to the midnight movie premiere of the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises” with his two teenage children.

Gordon was the oldest of the victims killed in the shooting massacre at the Century 16 Movie Theaters.

Gordon loved the outdoors and owned his own business.

Gordon lived in Aurora, Colorado, but in a statement by Gordon’s family, Gordon was described as a “true Texas gentleman.”

“A quick witted world traveler with a keen sense of humor, he will be remembered for his devotion to his children and for always trying his best to do the right thing, no matter the obstacle,” said Gordon’s family.

Gordon’s teenage children escaped the shooting unharmed.

“Our hearts go out to everyone that has been harmed by this senseless tragedy,” said Gordon’s family.

City, State, and Government Officials as well as church leaders united together to give thanks to all of the first responders and the many heroic people who helped saved lives last Friday night.

United States President Barack Obama visited one by one with families and with those who were wounded shooting massacre at the Century 16 Movie Theaters recovering in intensive care at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.

During a press conference on Sunday, United States President Barack Obama told members of the media,

“I come to them not so much as president as I do as a father and as a husband,” said United States President Barack Obama. “The reason stories like this have such an impact on us is because we can all understand what it would be to have somebody we love taken from us in this fashion.”

United States President Barack Obama most vivid lines during the press conference came in describing the story of two friends, 19 year old Allie Young and her best friend 21 year old Stephanie Davies. Both were in Young’s hospital room when United States President Barack Obama visited.

United States President Barack Obama recounted that when the gunman entered the movie theater and threw canisters of gas at the start of his killing spree, Allie stood up to warn people.

“And she was shot in the neck, and it punctured a vein, and immediately she started spurting blood,” said United States President Barack Obama.

“And apparently, as she dropped down on the floor, Stephanie — 21 years old — had the presence of mind to drop down on the ground with her, pull her out of the aisle, place her fingers over where Allie had been wounded, and applied pressure the entire time while the gunman was still shooting,” said United States President Barack Obama.

United States President Barack Obama said Davies eventually joined others in carrying her friend to an ambulance. He said Young was going to be fine.

“As tragic as the circumstances of what we’ve seen today are, as heartbreaking as it is for the families, it’s worth us spending most of our time reflecting on young Americans like Allie and Stephanie,” said United States President Barack Obama. “They represent what’s best in us, and they assure us that out of this darkness a brighter day is going to come.”

At the end of the ceremony, a candle light vigil was held and the thousands who were at the ceremony at the westside steps of the Aurora Municipal Center grow even larger with many wanting to give their love and prayers to those whose lives were lost during the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history.

** If you would like to help the victims and survivors of the deadly movie theater massacre at the Century 16 Movie Theaters in Aurora, Colorado, please go to GivingFirst.orgto donate to nonprofits supporting the victims and families of the deadly movie theater massacre. **

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By the way, there is a worse case than the Batman killer: David Augustus Burke. English-born Jamaican Burke killed 43 people including himself and he committed the worst mass murder by an African-American in the history of the United States. There is another Texas Gentleman like Gordon Cowden: Ray Frank Thomson. Ray (never “Raymond”) was born in Texas and he was married twice with no children. Thomson has an older brother, William “Presley” Thomson. It is possible that Presley would have said, “I forgive you, Mr. Burke.” Four months after the incident occurred, Pacific Southwest Airlines ceased to exist.